Monthly Archives: February 2017

Philadelphia, PA (February 23, 2017) – Governor Tom Wolf announced yesterday that LCFS’ West Philadelphia Senior Community Center has been awarded $19,000 in grant monies from the Pennsylvania Lottery.

WPSCC will use the critically needed funds to replace deteriorating equipment in its fitness center. “Our equipment hasn’t been upgraded since we opened in 2006. Now, with our funding, we can replace the old equipment with two new treadmills, a stationary bike, an elliptical machine, and a combination machine for upper and lower body workouts,” says WPSCC Program Manager Rose Richardson.

WPSCC’s fitness center has been a vital hub for hundreds of West Philadelphia seniors over the last decade, yet Rose expects the infusion of new equipment to help increase participation even more—by at least 20%. The modernization of the equipment, she says, will eliminate deficiencies that currently allow only 10 people to work out simultaneously.

Rose owes the popularity of the fitness center to several factors. “Many local seniors cannot afford membership to commercial fitness centers or would feel uncomfortable in such venues. Furthermore, older adults choose to work out at WPSCC because it provides an inclusive community of support and encouragement that helps them meets their goals,” she says.

The West Philadelphia Senior Community Center is located at 1016 N. 41st Street. Basic membership for seniors 50 and better costs nothing, and upgraded memberships are available at nominal cost. To inquire about joining, call 215-386-0379 or email roser@lcfsinpa.org.

About the West Philadelphia Senior Community CenterThe West Philadelphia Senior Community Center (WPSCC) improves the lives of 4,000 older adults through social services, initiatives that help to remediate food insecurity and poor nutrition, outreach to homebound seniors, support groups, and fitness and life enrichment programs. WPSCC is managed by LCFS, a member of the Liberty Lutheran family of services, with funds from the Philadelphia Corporation of Aging and the Pennsylvania Department of Aging. For more information, visit westphilaseniorcenter.org.

It all started with a pair of sandals…West Philadelphia Senior Community Center Member Ruth Gaskins first heard of making ‘pillowcase dresses’ for orphaned girls living in Uganda through New Cannan Baptist Church in West Philadelphia.

After she made her first few dresses and had them shipped to Uganda, she received a special gift from the children. A simple pair of sandals.

Moved by the gesture, Ms. Gaskins decided to do more- she committed herself to deliver 100 dresses to the children. She brought the idea of having the WPSCC Quilting Class make the dresses to WPSCC program Manager Rose Richardson. Rose quickly agreed the class could help with the project and that Members could donate supplies if they wished. The Quilting Class wholeheartedly agreed to help with the project and got to work sewing different colorful patterns and designs.

On January 12, Ms. Gaskins and the Quilting Class delivered the completed dresses to New Cannan Baptist Church representatives who would handle the delivery to Uganda. (See video below)

On Valentine’s Day, Ms. Gaskins and Rose received pictures of the young children with their new dresses.

“Upon seeing the pictures, my eyes welled with tears,” said Rose. “Who would have thought that such a small gesture of kindness from our seniors would go so far. I am absolutely thrilled!”

To learn more about the West Philadelphia Senior Community Center, click here.

Artman senior living community has expanded its workforce—but this is not a typical group of new hires. Instead, the community is celebrating a newly trained cadre of canine companions.
Already a casual extension of the Artman workforce, the staff-owned dogs had been faithfully accompanying their owners to work each day when Executive Director, Janet Lorenzon, found a way to formalize their status so they could become bona fide staff members.
Janet arranged for therapy dog training and last spring several of the dogs earned their certification, as well as the designation of American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen.

Meet Our American Kennel Club Good Citizens

Lucy (nickname Lulu)
Breed: Welsh Corgi
Age: 7.5 years
Partner: Jenn Conway, Community Life Supervisor
Favorite Treat: Anything—but she loves peanut butter!
Work Schedule: One or two days each week.
Interesting Fact: Lucy was rescued from North Carolina.

Lucy Byrne
Breed: Peek-A-Pom – a cross between a Pomeranian and a Pekingese
Age: 12.5 years
Partner: Madeleine Byrne, Community Life Leader
Favorite Treat: Grain-Free Greenies
Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8-4 and some weekends and holidays.
Interesting Fact: When Lucy accompanied Madeleine to college, she thoughtfully figured out how to work a small gumball machine and discovered that if she repeatedly hit the machine with her paws she could make the gumballs dislodge, then lick the color sugar coating off of them and leave the gum on the carpet!

Sophie
Breed: Cockapoo
Age: 9 years
Partner: Katelyn McKinley, Director of Community Life
Favorite Treat: Anything!
Work schedule: Tuesdays and Thursdays
Interesting fact: Sophie can high five when she feels like it!

Last fall, Paul’s Run launched Harmonies of the Heart, a comprehensive initiative that is bringing the joy of music to all residents.

Jeri Iacono, a music therapist who spearheads the program, assesses residents’ musical history and preferences and pairs each with activities that inspire happiness and success through music.

Now, according to Jeri, it isn’t rare to see residents rejoice in making music, even those who were sure their voices or hands would not cooperate. “For some residents, they’re coming back to something they love. For others, it’s something new–they’re learning to read music or play bells.”

The robust menu of musical opportunities includes dynamic group activities like chorus, bell choir, and drum circle. And now, to Jeri’s delight, even private music instruction. Since the launch of Harmonies of the Heart, residents continue to steadily gain confidence in their joy of making music and several have stepped forward requesting individual lessons in voice or piano.

The confidence and gratification resulting from Harmonies of the Heart is pervasive. “Members of our chorus are now asking to sing in parts instead of all singing the melody. Family members are now regularly asking about the program and eagerly encouraging their loved ones to participate,” says Jeri.

In the months ahead, Jeri expects that many residents will have built the skills and assurance to engage in their own delightful expression of music through improvisation. “We want to empower residents to create their own joyous music and rhythm.”

Something remarkable and meaningful happens when people from two diametrically different generations come together and build friendships.

This extraordinary dynamic has taken hold at The Hearth through Lower Merion High School’s Build On program, a community service initiative in which students, grades nine through twelve, share games, laughter, and heartfelt camaraderie with Hearth residents.

“It’s marvelous having the students visit,” says Ruth, a Hearth resident. The feeling is mutual. Linda, who is in twelfth grade, says that she’s discovered interesting commonalities between her own millennial generation and the pre-Baby Boomer Silent Generation from which our residents hail. “We have a lot of similar opinions and common ground on things like movies and music even though we’re in different age groups,” she says.

Madison prepares s’mores for a social gathering with residents.

Madison, a sophomore, says she is looking forward to learning so much from the residents. “I’m hoping to learn from the residents here because they’re so experienced and so amazing. I just love interacting with people who know so much about life.”

A Perfect Connection

It is, according to Megan Calel, Household Coordinator, a perfect kinship between residentsand students. “It really is wonderful that Lower Merion High School is connecting with The Hearth because so many of our residents have graduated from there, or have had their children or grandchildren there.”

As for the students, says Megan, they really value the opportunity to spend time with residents. “The students have lived in this area for most, if not all, of their lives and are very entrenched in this community as are most of our residents.”

Abby says she loves to hear the amazing stories residents tell. Here she is shown playing Qwirkle, a game she loves to share with residents.

Currently seven or eight students visit each week and the number is gradually growing. Tom Reed, a ninth grade teacher at Lower Merion High School and the sponsor of Build On, says the students appreciate how The Hearth supports them every step of the way and encourages them to use their skills to enhance the lives of residents.

“It’s wonderful how our students are able to form relationships with residents, explore common interests, and then work together and play together. The array of opportunities enables both the students and residents to really form a bond,” he says.